27th March 2026 – The East Coast Cluster (ECC) , which brings together NZT Power and the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP), today announced that major contractors across the projects have awarded more than 230 individual sub-contracts to UK businesses, with a combined value of £1.5bn. This includes £500m of new awards through competitive tenders since Q3 2025, as construction activity ramps up across one of the UK government’s first two carbon capture, usage and storage clusters.
NZT Power, which is set to become the world’s first gas-fired power station with carbon capture and storage, and NEP, developer of the UK’s first commercial-scale carbon transport and storage network which will serve NZT Power and future ECC carbon capture projects on Teesside and the Humber, are on track to deliver more than 50% UK content across the build while creating and supporting more than 3,000 jobs.
The projects have recently awarded Teesside-based company px Group the operations, engineering and maintenance (OEM) contract. px Group will recruit and employ an on-site team of around 100 people, including apprentices, and will engage the local supply chain to procure materials and maintenance services. Further contracts for the long-term operation and maintenance of the site will follow, creating more opportunities for local businesses and workers.
The onshore power, capture and compression consortium led by Technip Energies, which includes GE Vernova and Balfour Beatty as construction partner, is operating from 12,000 sq ft of office space at the Wilton Centre next to the Teesworks site. Through the project, Balfour Beatty has already engaged more than 140 UK suppliers, recently launched a recruitment campaign for roles including mechanical engineers, site engineers and temporary works coordinators, and expects to employ 1,500 people at peak construction.
A number of firms from Teesside and the surrounding area have secured work via the consortium. Cullum Detuners, working from Stockton-on-Tees with fabrication support in Middlesbrough, will deliver high-specification flue gas ducting, supporting 40 fabricators over 15 months and creating 15 new positions. Stockton-on-Tees-based Barrier Architectural Services has been awarded the turbine hall HVAC package, while Coatham Coaches, near Guisborough, is providing park-and-ride services and has already created 15 additional jobs.
The projects are also drawing on specialist capability from across the wider UK supply chain. Costain is currently supporting the project with around 200 people on site, alongside approximately 100 designers and engineers based in Manchester. To date, it has awarded 23 subcontracts, 90% of them to UK-based suppliers, supporting a further 100 workers across the supply chain. This includes family-owned Adey Steel, which will fabricate six new steel bridges from its Loughborough site to support pipeline and high-voltage cable infrastructure.
Wood is providing engineering, construction and project management services across multiple contractor offices and the site, with a third of its team currently based in the local area.
Saipem has awarded contracts to a number of UK businesses, including Wakefield-based Stockton Drilling Ltd, which will act as a strategic partner in delivering pipeline, power cable and outlet facilities. Around 90% of this contract will be delivered using local resources, supporting 35 jobs. Additional specialist services contracts have also been awarded to Engineering Services and Supplies Ltd, Ordtek Ltd and Weston Compliance Services Ltd.
TechnipFMC will deliver the offshore subsea injection system with work taking place across several UK locations, including Newcastle, Evanton and Dunfermline. As part of this package, fabrication of the manifolds and the pig launcher/receiver will be completed by Maraen Fabrication (previously Global Energy (Group)) at the Port of Nigg, a supplier recognised for delivering complex subsea and topside structures across the energy sector.”
Alcatel Submarine Networks is delivering the project’s power and communications cable from its headquarters in Greenwich. The business, which directly employs more than 500 people in the UK, has awarded sub-contracts to UK offshore specialists including Cathie Associates, EGS and Safelane.
UK contractors have been engaged for several years ahead of construction to identify opportunities, and packages continue to be listed on the North Sea Transition Authority’s Pathfinder portal to support transparency and supply-chain access.
Ian Hunter, Managing Director, NZT Power, said: “Reaching £1.5bn of contracts awarded to UK businesses is a major milestone and a clear sign that this project is turning investment into real opportunities for British industry. From Teesside to suppliers across the country, companies are securing work, creating jobs and building the capabilities needed to deliver the UK’s clean energy transition.”
Rich Denny, Managing Director of NEP, said: “British business is stepping forward to help us deliver the UK’s first and largest CO₂ transportation and storage asset. Together, we are creating skilled jobs, accelerating the journey to net zero and boosting economic growth. This is just the beginning. As more capture projects connect to our network and we develop additional offshore storage, opportunities for the UK supply chain will continue to grow for years to come.”
Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “Carbon capture, usage and storage is vital for Britain’s clean energy future. We are delivering first of a kind carbon capture projects in the UK, backed by £9.4 billion over this parliament. This milestone demonstrates how our clean energy mission is driving investment, economic growth and supporting thousands of jobs in our industrial heartlands.”
Andy McDonald, Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough & Thornaby East, said: “This is wonderful news for Teesside which will provide the opportunity of really good employment and training opportunities for around 100 people as well as bringing wider economic benefits under the multi-million pound contract. That it is being delivered by a Teesside company of 25 years standing in px Group, based in Thornaby, with the full confidence of Net Zero Teesside Power and the Northern Endurance Partnership, should be further cause for celebration.”
Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor, said: ”This is fantastic news for Teesside and exactly what we want to see – major projects delivering for local people and local firms. “I’ve always been clear that when investment comes here, it must back local jobs and local businesses. Projects like this don’t come to Teesside by chance. They come because of the skills and experience we’ve built up over generations of work in industry, so it’s only right that local people and local firms are first in line to benefit. We’ve got the workforce, the capability and the know-how to deliver world-first projects like this, and it’s great that this deal means even more long-term, skilled jobs for local people close to home.”
Geoff Holmes, CEO, px Group, said: “We’re proud to be part of the NZT Power and NEP project because it’s about more than cutting carbon – it’s about investing in our people and our future. This work is creating new skills, new opportunities, and high-quality jobs across our workforce, while helping our business become more resilient and innovative. By acting now, we’re not only reducing emissions, we’re helping build a stronger, cleaner industrial future for the UK.”
Clive Williams, IPMT Project Manager, Wood plc, said: “Wood is proud to play a central role in supporting NZT Power and the NEP as the UK delivers its first commercial-scale CCUS network. This project strengthens our business, supports regional growth, and enables our teams to contribute directly to the UK’s net-zero future. Our commitment to local hiring, early-career development, and high-quality project delivery ensures we can bring the full breadth of Wood’s capability to this landmark project”
Stuart Stephens, Specialist Projects Director, Stockton Drilling, said: “Stockton Drilling Ltd have genuine pride in working on the NEP project. We were involved during the concept works and FEED phases, helping to take the project into construction. This project is unique, and we are delighted to be selected to deliver the crucial landfall scope of this world-first project”.
Dave Mackay, General Manager, Global Energy, said: “We are proud to deliver this project for our valued client TechnipFMC, once again demonstrating the strength and reliability of our fabrication expertise and facilities. Built on trust and proven delivery, our partnership reflects the confidence placed in us to provide high-quality, on-time solutions with an uncompromising focus on safety.”
Luana Duffe, Executive Vice President for New Energy, TechnipFMC said: “The progress on this groundbreaking project is driven by the outstanding work of our strong local presence, our pioneering technologies, and our iEPCI® offering,” said. “Developing the first fully electric system for carbon transportation and storage marks a major milestone for both our company and the wider industry. It clearly demonstrates that the competencies built in traditional energies sit at the very heart of the energy transition.”
